Abstract

The underlying neuropathology in schizophrenia is still poorly understood and several approaches have been adopted to investigate it at a behavioural level. Studies of oculomotor performance in schizophrenia have proved particularly useful. It is clear that in schizophrenia several intriguing oculomotor deficits are manifest. In particular, smooth ocular pursuit (SP) is known to be disrupted; Holzman et al (1973) reported that SP in schizophrenics was disrupted by the intrusion of numerous small saccades giving a “cogwheel” appearance to eye position records. It has been suggested that this deficit might serve as a biological marker for the neuropathology which gives rise to schizophrenia. The development of new behavioural paradigms have provided new tools for investigating oculomotor control in schizophrenia, and perhaps better tasks for probing the SP deficit.